Malawian journalist assaulted during radio interview

Nairobi, January 7,
2013--Malawian authorities must immediately investigate the reported assault of a radio
journalist who said he was punched by a business leader angered by an interview
question.

"It's outrageous
that someone would assault a reporter because he objected to being asked a
question," CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes said. "We call on authorities
to take prompt action and demonstrate that no one has the right to physically
attack a reporter."

Anthony Masamba, bureau
chief of the Malawi Institute of
Journalism Radio, told CPJ that he was assaulted in Lilongwe on Saturday by
Chancellor Kaferapanjira, head of the Malawi Confederation of Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (MCCCI),
during an interview for "Melting Pot," a new program for the radio station. The
MCCCI is a partnership of enterprises and associations representing all sectors
of the economy in the country.

Masamba told CPJ
that he asked Kaferapanjira questions about recent news reports that said the
government had already overspent its budget and that protests were being planned
this month by John Kapito, head of the Consumer Association of Malawi. The
demonstrations are intended to highlight the rising cost of basic commodities
due to new government reforms. Masamba said that Kaferapanjira stopped the
interview, accused him of being a Kapito supporter, grabbed the recorder, and
began punching him in the face, news
reports said.

Masamba said he
sought treatment for a dislocated jaw at a local hospital. He said his recorder
was broken in the attack, but that his memory card was not damaged so he hoped
to still be able to broadcast the interview.

Steven Chilundu, a
reporter for local radio station Capital Radio, told CPJ he had accompanied
Masamba to the interview and had seen Kaferapanjira assault Masamba. Masamba said
he reported the attack to the local police, who promised to investigate the
case.